K’taka HC Issues Notice to BBMP Over Illegal Shops in Jayanagar Complex

The Karnataka High Court has issued notice to the Chief Commissioner of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for their non-compliance with a 2020 court order to remove illegal shops in the upper basement of the Jayanagar shopping complex within a three-year timeframe.

Advocate RR Hiremath, who practices in the High Court, filed a petition challenging the BBMP’s breach of building regulations. This violation pertained to the BBMP permitting shops to operate in the upper basement of Block I of the Complex, originally designated as a parking area.

The BBMP’s argument contended that the upper basement was temporarily utilized to accommodate existing licensees and would subsequently serve as a parking space once Blocks II, III, and IV were constructed within the stipulated three years.

The Court had disposed of the initial petition, granting the BBMP the specified time frame to address the issue. However, Hiremath returned to the High Court with a contempt petition, alleging that the BBMP had failed to construct the other blocks and remove the unlawful shops from the upper basement parking floor.

A division bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Krishna S Dixit heard the petition and ordered issuing notice to Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath and adjourned the hearing.